The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

Music has been invaded by sporting spirit. and wo
likely have In the future any number OF contests
for the testing OF the endurance and skill Of rival
various Instruments. The first important event In
musical sport has taken place in England where plan
list named Napoleon Bird has been making and breaking
the record for longtime pano-paying. His latest
complement was the playing Of piano for thrtysix
and quarter hours without stopping His best previous
record was twenty-five consecutive hours 1t is said
that during the last hour two of this extraordinary
feat he much troubled by seepiness but that he
reused all his energies at the final and conclud
ed his performance by singing Rule Brittana" to his
accompaniment. No one has yet appeared in Eng
land to rival this sportsman at the piano. but is quite
possible that erterprsng American may step into
the field before long
Auditors at Thomas concerts have often interested
themselves with wondering how Is that thelconductor
brings out such perfection of playing from hs famous
band Mr.. Thomas is hard worker and at rehearsals
he makes his personality strongly felt upon every
Der of the company. He is by aristocratc In
his methods at rehearsals although his autocratic
ner is well known. The writer stumbled in upon
the rehearsal Of part of the Parsifa" music It
In a vast hall which was entirely empty save for the
presence Of Mr.. Thomas and OF ladies who
were learning to sing the Flower scene" Mr..
Thomas sat at the piano with a saft hat iammed
upon the back of his head. lie had piano
before him, and the ladies grouped around
ut his back and In front of him. His fingers
the keys If he thoroughly accustomed to piano
forte performance and his voice occasionally heard
to the singers After repeating
troublesome phrase several times he jumped up from
his with the words That will do" and any
further comment walked on into his private room.
Such an utter lack OF ceremony would not to DO
calculated to inspire confidence In the singers har
monious work, and yet director brings better
ensemble effect.
Listeners at orchestral concerts who have been an.
noyeh as many were at the last Thomas rehearsal by
the ncessant swapping Of strings have often wondered
II there was not some way to prevent such accidents II
there were such way the listener might be assured
that Theodore Thomas would no; endure with such Ia
thence the noisy interruption to the music that
every and then in his orchestra 1t IL accident
thar 1t is impossible to by any yet known
to players 1t arises of course, from the wearing
out OF tho string, and yet q string that
seems perfectly sound may snap within Ave min
utes after has been stretched upon the instrument 1t
Is largely due to atmospheric conditions. On damp
days the strings in orchestra much likely
snap than upon Others Some players more likely,
also to with this accident than others OF
perspiration at tho fingers ends This will tend con
stanty TO throw the string and the others also cut OF
tune and eventually make the string susceptible
to the strain TO which it is subjected
Another matter which frequently eNcites unin formed
listeners is the endurance which vioniss manifest In
bowling their Instruments 1t the spectator
II the constant strain OF bowling would tire after
an hour and half OF playing that he could not
through another piece As matter of fact the arm OF
a vionis IL rarely weared by he exercise but he ia
nevertheless, very susceptible ~ fatigue in another
direction. His sensitive part is the ends OF the fingers
of the left hand. An ordinary concert or opera
even, through which the volinsts have TO play
almost uninerruptedy, does not bring any especial
strain upon tho fingers but several successive days
OF playing tend TO make them This, OF course,
will react upon the quality of the performance and
directors recognizing this, frequently forbid the mem
bers of their orchestra to play In other bands. When
m ka pnE rhnFU SnfIh YIN bAnv
orchestra he createda sensation and dis
content by making his musicians bind themselves by
contract not to play in other organization
or concerts during the entire season The reason for
this action not alone that musicians may iniure
their style by playing under different leaders, but be-
the demand for players from the famous
orchestras will tend TO keep them active day after
day 10 make their fingers sensitive TO the
action OF the strings upon them and thus the fine
effects OF the playing In a symphony concert
At the Metropolitan wagners Tristan and Isolde" Is
10 he given tomorrow night Meisslinger Ia to take
The part of Brdngane On Wednesday evening. for the
irst time In America Nesslers "The Trumpeter Of
to be produced, and 1t will DO repeated
At the matinee Saturday The Prophet the opera
Friday night and Lehman 10 TO sing In It the part OF
Berthd,
Mr.. Theodore Thomas gives his second symphony
ert on Tuesday evening and the second his Young
Peoples series Saturday afternoon
Tho Van der stucken American Concerts" are to end
his week. with performances on Tuesday afternoon
md Thursday evening.
The temperance of Nine Etelka Gerster before
Few York audience, after an absence OF four years
must be regarded as notable'muscal event Her first
oncert Is "a he given In tho Metropolitan Opera House
N Thursday evening AMI on Thursday evening she may
70 heard again. Nine. Helen Hastreiter Is to appear
With her. and Adolph Neuendorn Is TO conduct an Or
hestra composed OF twenty five musicians
|
The New York symphony Society Is to give its second
sh'ArsAl on Friday AftsrA0OE and the s0nOs 0R sAtu
~ evening.